Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is there in black and white. I am saying this in the context of the pandemic. When Mr. Fenn's sector was in crisis and people were encouraged to holiday at home, people supported the sector. I think it was Mr. O'Mara Walsh who said they helped the survival of the industry. The minute things are starting to open up, we have the rip-off again. We have extortionate room rates being charged. It is easy to compare them with other European cities and there is no comparison. It is going to drive people out. Vast reputational damage is being done to this country as a value for money destination and the Irish Hotels Federation is not thinking in the long term. I do not know if Mr. Fenn is aware that international tourists are well able to compare prices. Instantly Ireland will get the reputation of being too expensive with hotel rooms at rip-off rates and they are not going to come here. Domestic tourism that did support the sector when it was pleading for help and support is not going to forget. Everybody is living in a cost-of-living crisis. How is a family of four, say, ever to book a room? There are many hotels in quieter places around the country that are offering good value for money and doing all they can to encourage tourism, yet here we have these rip-off rates in Dublin and other cities. Mr. Fenn comes here with no plan to tackle it, no plan to make a public statement calling on the Irish Hotels Federation's members to be reasonable and offer value for money and not to rip off the public.